[NFB-Seniors-Discussion] I hate being blind - Can or do you ever say this?

[Veronica]

> On Mar 8, 2021, at 3:53 PM, Connie Schwarzfeld via NFB-Seniors-Discussion <nfb-seniors-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Hi, 
> 
> What an interesting topic for discussion. 
> 
> I have retinitis pigmentosa  so I remember seeing but have no vision remaining. 
> I believe I have continued to live a very good life. I enjoy my life to its fullest.
> I agree with Robert that much of my frustration comes from other people’s perceptions. 
> However, It is frustrating when those who design household appliances, medical devices, and other technologies such as surround sound systems; have given no consideration on how blind people will be able to operate them. This “short-sightedness” makes our lives more complicated. 
> I hate the thought of having to replace any of my things.   I am glad to be part of the NFB which tries diligently to encourage accessibility but it seems always to be an uphill battle. 
> Wouldn’t it be great to be able to buy household appliances which were immediately accessible instead of having to label everything ourselves? 
> Oh, what a wonderful dream…
> 
> Connie, Erie PA 
> 
>> On Mar 8, 2021, at 1:21 AM, Lauren Merryfield via NFB-Seniors-Discussion <nfb-seniors-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi,
>> I don’t hate being blind because I was born blind and do not know any other way to be. It is normal for me to be blind.
>>  
>> When people ask me what it is like being blind, inside, I sometimes think “Oh no! Not that again. I don’t know how to answer that.” So they asked me; I tell them that the social side of blindness is what it is like to be blind, worse than actually not seeing. Sure, I’d like to have driven a car; read print books with my own eyes, and see people and watch them in the mall back when I took my daughter there to shop—Heaven forbid! 
>>  
>> I usually tell them how I am seen as less intelligent and less capable than nonblind people, and the exclusion I experience is very sad. But, like Robert said, it is best to keep going on and live our lives.
>> Blessings,
>> Lauren Merryfield❤
>>  
>>  
>> "What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living powers. Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold.Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love." 
>> Abdu’l-Baha
>>  
>> From: NFB-Seniors-Discussion <nfb-seniors-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of RobertLeslie Newman via NFB-Seniors-Discussion
>> Sent: Sunday, March 7, 2021 10:35 AM
>> To: NFB Seniors Division Discussion List <nfb-seniors-discussion at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: robertleslienewman at gmail.com
>> Subject: [NFB-Seniors-Discussion] I hate being blind - Can or do you ever say this?
>>  
>> Hi Fellow Discussion List Members
>> It has been very quiet here of late, and so read my short paragraph below and share-
>>  
>> Most times, when I meet a new person and they ask me what is it like to be blind, I will say something like this:
>>  
>> Well… Let me start off with telling you that my story starts out with the fact that I was born with Twenty-twenty vision, and at age fifteen, I was in a car accident and lost all my sight; I cannot even see light. Now, I see just as good out of the back of my head, as I do the front. And what I have learned, is that being blind, not able to use my eyes to do things in life is not so difficult; that most everything can be done non-visually. And that I’ve also learned that the toughest and most frustrating part of being blind is how other people view you, and treat you; they can make it more disheartening and difficult to do what I know I can do. But hey, though I hate being blind, life is to big and beautiful to get hung up in the small things; like being blind.
>>  
>> Respectfully yours,
>> Robert Leslie Newman
>> Omaha, Nebraska
>>  
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> 
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> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors-discussion_nfbnet.org/mad.tewe%40gmail.comI also have RP, so have seen in the past but not for the last 30 years. It doesn’t bother me when people ask me about my blindness. We are always telling kids at school there is no such thing as a dumb question and if you do not know, the only way to find out is to ask. Having said that, the only time is irritates me that I cannot see is when i want to go somewhere like right now or like a few days when I got my invite for the Covid-19 shot I could not open the stupid wheel to put in my birthdate and there was not a place to type it in.

Veronica, (SAGE) President


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